Gennaro Gattuso is widely anticipated to step down as the head coach of the Italian national team after the Azzurri’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Recent reports indicate three primary contenders are emerging as his potential successors.
Potential Successors for Italy’s Head Coach Role
Gattuso’s squad was eliminated in the World Cup play-off final against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday. The ten-man Azzurri suffered a penalty shootout defeat in Zenica, marking their third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup.
This outcome is poised to trigger a significant restructuring within Italian football. Beyond Gattuso’s anticipated departure, Gianluigi Buffon is also expected to step down as delegation chief, and Gabriele Gravina is slated to leave his post as President of the FIGC (Italian Football Federation).
Sources including Sky Sport Italia suggest three initial candidates are being considered to take over from Gattuso.
For many Azzurri fans, Massimiliano Allegri represents the ‘dream’ choice. He is currently less than a year into a two-year contract with Milan, which includes an option for a 12-month extension.
While the former Juventus boss has no prior experience coaching a national team, he holds the distinction of being the second-most successful Serie A coach ever, with six Scudetti titles.
Another strong contender is Antonio Conte, who is reportedly being considered for a return to the Italy setup. He previously managed the national team from 2014 to 2016.
During his initial stint, Conte began with a 10-match unbeaten run and successfully guided Italy to qualify for Euro 2016. He departed for Chelsea in the Premier League after leading the team to the quarter-finals of that tournament.
Roberto Mancini, another former Italy coach, is also considered a potential candidate for a return. Despite being under contract with Al-Sadd until 2027, Sky reports suggest he would “gladly” accept the role again.
Under Mancini’s leadership, Italy famously won EURO 2020 in the summer of 2021. However, his tenure also saw the national team fail to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
While Simone Inzaghi and Stefano Pioli have also been mentioned, they are currently viewed as outside contenders for the position.